Cottages in Whitby

Table of contents

• At a glance: what should you know about renting a holiday cottage in Whitby?
• Holiday cottages in Whitby: find your perfect retreat
• Exploring Whitby: our top recommendations
• Activities: what are the top things to do and see in Whitby?

• Characterful cottages: Whitby's cottages include something for everyone, ranging from snug Old Town boltholes to coastal homes with sea views, many with gardens, hot tubs and dog-friendly touches for a relaxed self-catering holiday.
• Where to stay: The Old Town and harbourside suit first-time visitors, whilst West Cliff, Sandsend and Goathland appeal to those after sea views, sandy beaches or the moors.
• Top-rated stays: Guests rate Whitby cottages highly, praising warm local hosts, homely interiors and walkable harbour locations, with several earning near-perfect scores over the past year.
• Where to eat: Whitby is famous for its fish and chips, with beloved spots such as the Magpie Café and Trenchers, plus traditional tearooms like Botham's of Whitby.
• Things to do: Climb the 199 Steps to Whitby Abbey, wander the harbour, ride the steam railway from Goathland and explore the North York Moors.

Whitby's holiday cottages include snug fishermen's cottages tucked into the cobbled Old Town and roomy coastal retreats with sweeping bay views, suiting couples and families alike. If a cottage isn't quite right, you'll also find welcoming bed and breakfasts, self-catering holiday homes and harbourside apartments dotted across the town. Most are well placed for the harbour, the beach and the town's independent shops. Most cottages come well equipped for a relaxed self-catering holiday, with popular amenities including:

• Sea views over the harbour and West Cliff
• Private gardens and enclosed yards, ideal for dog-friendly stays
• Cosy wood-burning stoves for cooler autumn evenings
• A handful of cottages with hot tubs for a touch of luxury
• Fast Wi-Fi, fully fitted kitchens and off-street parking

Many sit within a short walk of the harbour, the beach and Whitby's friendly pubs and tearooms.

What are the best areas to stay in Whitby?

The Old Town and harbourside is the most popular base, but the wider town and nearby villages each have their own appeal. The table below details areas for specific interests:

What do our guests say?

Holidu guests consistently give Whitby's cottages high ratings, praising their characterful interiors, the warm welcomes from local hosts and the unbeatable proximity to the harbour and beaches. Many reviewers return year after year, noting how comfortable and well kept the properties are.

Here are our top-rated holiday cottages from the past year:

1. Ammonite House - 10.0: A spacious cottage for six with an enclosed yard in the heart of Whitby, praised for its homely feel and walkable location near the harbour.
2. Goathland Cottage - 10.0: A welcoming cottage for five with a private yard, loved for its peaceful moorland setting and easy reach of the steam railway.
3. Marina Apartment - 10.0: A comfortable cottage for four close to the marina, with guests highlighting its tidy interiors and handy harbourside position.

Whitby sits on the North Yorkshire coast in north-east England, where the River Esk meets the North Sea, on the edge of the North York Moors National Park. It's a unique coastal destination, offering an intriguing mixture of old-fashioned seaside fun and brooding gothic charm.

🥗Where to eat in Whitby?

Whitby may just be the best spot in the UK for traditional fish and chips, with many of the town's chip shops still using beef tallow to fry this much-loved favourite. Lovers of local delicacies should also try smoked kippers. Here are our travel experts' picks for great meals in Whitby:

⭐Our guests' recommendation: Our guest travellers the Harper family recommend Humble Pie 'n' Mash in Whitby: a cosy little spot just off the harbour serving proper homemade pies and mash — a comforting, family-friendly treat after a blustery walk along the pier.

1. Climb the 199 Steps to the abbey
2. Explore the ruins of Whitby Abbey
3. Wander the harbour and Old Town
4. Unwind on Whitby's sandy beaches
5. Visit the Captain Cook Memorial Museum
6. Ride the North Yorkshire Moors Railway
7. Walk in the North York Moors

1. Climb the 199 Steps to the abbey

   No visit is complete without climbing the famous 199 Steps, which rise from the Old Town up to St Mary's Church and the abbey. Pause on the bench-lined landings to catch your breath and take in the rooftops, the harbour and the sweep of the bay below. The spectacular views from the top are well worth the effort.

2. Explore the ruins of Whitby Abbey

   Perched dramatically on the East Cliff, Whitby Abbey is the town's most iconic landmark. Founded in Norman times and later left to ruin after Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries, its gaunt Gothic arches still cut a striking silhouette against the sky. Wander the grounds, learn the abbey's story in the visitor centre, and you'll understand why this brooding setting inspired chapters of Bram Stoker's Dracula.

3. Wander the harbour and Old Town

   The heart of Whitby is its working harbour, where fishing boats still land their catch beside narrow cobbled lanes. Browse the independent shops for Whitby jet jewellery, sample fish and chips by the water, and stroll out along the piers to the old lighthouses.

4. Unwind on Whitby's sandy beaches

   West of the Esk lies West Beach, a broad stretch of golden sand backed by colourful beach huts and watched over by lifeguards in summer. It's perfect for a paddle, a sandcastle or a bracing coastal walk towards neighbouring Sandsend. For more dramatic coastline, the wide beaches up at Bamburgh make a memorable day out further along the coast.

5. Visit the Captain Cook Memorial Museum

   Housed in the 17th-century harbourside home where the young James Cook lodged as an apprentice, this museum tells the story of Whitby's most famous explorer. Displays of maps, journals and artefacts from his three great voyages bring his discoveries vividly to life.

6. Ride the North Yorkshire Moors Railway

   Catch a heritage steam train from nearby Goathland — better known to many as Hogsmeade from the Harry Potter films — and rumble through glorious moorland scenery. The North Yorkshire Moors Railway is one of the country's best-loved heritage lines, winding between Pickering and Whitby. It's a wonderfully nostalgic day out, and the perfect way to reach the open moors without a car.

7. Walk in the North York Moors

   Whitby sits right on the edge of the North York Moors National Park, home to the largest expanse of heather moorland in England. In late summer the hills turn a glorious shade of purple. Lace up your walking boots for routes across the moors and through deep wooded valleys, or seek out the charming Falling Foss waterfall and its hidden tea garden.